The world of obstacle course game shows has seen its fair share of quirky challenges and high-flying stunts, but one of the most notable legal disputes in this genre came between MXC (a Japanese game show known for its outrageous challenges) and Wipeout, an American hit game show that launched on ABC in 2008. Allegations of copyright infringement, plagiarism, and stolen formats flooded the courts in what was a dramatic battle of networks and lawyers.
The Allegations: A Showdown of Similarities
MXC (also known as Takeshi’s Castle) and Wipeout share many similarities in their obstacle course challenges. In fact, TBS (the network behind MXC) raised several copyright infringement claims against Wipeout, arguing that the ABC show was simply a modernized version of their own. Below are the key allegations made by TBS in their lawsuit:
- The Floating Island Challenge
MXC had a challenge where contestants used a pole to launch themselves onto a floating platform. Wipeout introduced a very similar obstacle, where contestants slide into a pole to launch themselves onto a platform. Though there were minor differences, the core concept was largely the same. - Block Run and Floating Obstacles
Both shows featured an obstacle that involved running across floating objects. MXC called this challenge “Omaha Beach,” while Wipeout had its own version where contestants had to run across inner tubes or blocks. - Log Drop
MXC’s “Roller Game” (also known as Log Drop) required contestants to leap over or run across spinning logs. Wipeout mirrored this concept with their own obstacle, a spin-off of the Log Drop, in which contestants had to leap over a large rotating log. - Large Balls
Both shows featured obstacles where contestants had to jump over large balls. While the concept was generic and could apply to other challenges, TBS was particularly keen on drawing parallels between MXC’s “Boulder Dash” and Wipeout‘s “Barrel Run.” - Rotating Surfboard
One of the more intricate challenges in MXC involved a rotating surfboard where contestants had to dodge obstacles while standing on a spinning platform over water. Wipeout featured a similar challenge, but instead of standing on the rotating surfboard, contestants had to ride a rotating arm. - Jumping Bars
A contest where contestants had to jump from one beam or platform to another was present in both shows, though Wipeout didn’t directly mirror the “jumping bars” seen in MXC. It had more of a monkey-bar type of challenge, though this was still considered similar by TBS. - Sliding Down a Large Slide & Swinging from a Rope
MXC had challenges involving contestants sliding down a large slide or swinging from a rope onto a platform. Wipeout borrowed these ideas, with some minor changes.
Despite these allegations, TBS faced significant hurdles in proving that Wipeout copied MXC to the point of copyright infringement.
The Defense: Fair Use and Common Concepts
ABC’s legal defense was equally strong. They argued that MXC’s format and the challenges in question were not protected under copyright law. Essentially, the network contended that obstacle courses are a common concept in the entertainment world and that Wipeout’s similarities were simply part of a genre that had been around for decades.
In a classic corporate move, ABC also argued that TBS was attempting to claim ownership over an entire genre of television shows, not just their specific expression of it. They pointed to cases like the famous Superman lawsuit, where broad concepts like the superhero archetype weren’t copyrighted.
With the case in court, the judge seemed to side with ABC, ruling that many of TBS’s claims were too broad and that game show formats, especially obstacle courses, weren’t inherently copyrightable. This ruling signaled that if the case had gone to trial, Wipeout would likely not have been found guilty of copying MXC outright.
The Settlement: A Quiet End
In December 2011, after extensive legal back-and-forth, TBS and ABC decided to settle the case quietly. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning TBS could never bring the same claims against ABC again. The details of the settlement were never revealed, and it remains unclear whether any financial exchange took place.
Despite this, Wipeout continued on for years after the lawsuit. TBS may not have won the case, but their argument raised an interesting question: how much can a network borrow from another before it becomes outright theft?
The Revival and Cancellation of Wipeout
The legal battle may have ended in a settlement, but Wipeout wasn’t quite done. In April 2021, TBS revived the show with new hosts, including John Cena, and added fresh obstacles to capture a modern audience. However, the revival struggled to maintain interest, and by February 2025, Wipeout was officially canceled after just two seasons. TBS cited high production costs and a shift in programming as the reasons for pulling the plug on the show.
Conclusion: Was It Really Theft?
Was Wipeout a blatant copy of MXC? The evidence wasn’t overwhelmingly convincing, but it’s clear that Wipeout borrowed heavily from MXC’s formula. The show may not have been found guilty of copyright infringement, but it did raise important questions about originality and intellectual property in the world of game shows.
In the end, Wipeout may have faced legal challenges, but it remained a beloved part of television history, surviving the legal battle and going on to enjoy a successful run—until its eventual cancellation in 2025. The question remains: how far can a show go before it crosses the line from inspiration to theft?
